The BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal) has published a study showing that the benefits of bike share schemes are greater than the risks of cycling and the net result is that lives are saved. See the abstract (highlighted on the page) for a good summary.

And finally, combining the last two topics, Sydney University’s Professor of Public Health Chris Rissel examines whether helmet compulsion has had a negative effect on Australian bike share schemes.

“Objective: To estimate the risks and benefits to health of travel by bicycle, using a bicycle sharing scheme, compared with travel by car in an urban environment.”

it looks like they’re concerned with urban areas where, according to wikipedia, spanish cyclists are not required to wear helmets. in most places where cyclists are not required to wear helmets, helmets are extremely rare. i’d be curious to see rates of helmet use in barcelona, but i’d guess it’s around 1% of adults.

If my information is correct, Spain had a compulsory helmet law that has been gradually eroded, starting with exemptions for the bike share scheme. It is thought that this has been a major factor in Barcelona rocketing to 7% bike modal share in 5 years.